The Generalitat has rented a building in Barcelona's 22@ innovation district to expand the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC), reinforcing its capacity ahead of taking over full management of income tax collection by 2026.

This move follows the approval of a temporary hiring plan for this year’s tax campaign, which includes adding 102 staff members – 93 administrative and 9 tax management technicians – to increase in-person and telephone support for taxpayers. The staff will be distributed across Catalonia: 49 in Barcelona, 16 in Girona, 10 in Lleida, and 18 in Tarragona.

The expansion is part of a broader strategy to boost the ATC’s role in tax administration, currently limited to a 4% participation in the annual income tax campaign. The Generalitat aims to raise this to 20% this year as a pilot phase ahead of full IRPF management in 2026.

The challenge of managing income tax for 2026 is enormous and the Catalan Tax Agency must grow and gain muscle,

said Economy Minister Alícia Romero.

Increased Infrastructure and Permanent Hiring

  • The ATC will operate from 36 offices this year, up from around 28 last year.
  • Citizen service counters across Catalonia will more than double to 87.
  • The Generalitat will also create 90 new permanent positions within the ATC to strengthen its long-term structure.

The additional infrastructure and staffing are expected to cost €1.5 million. The new premises in the 22@ district will consolidate administrative functions and support the agency’s growing responsibilities under Catalonia’s evolving fiscal framework.

Broader Relocation Strategy

This development aligns with a wider administrative shift. In 2020, four departments of the Generalitat, including Economy and Finance, began relocating to a new administrative district in Barcelona’s Zona Franca, freeing up space for strategic reassignments like the current 22@ expansion.

The Generalitat’s push to strengthen the ATC reflects its commitment to assume full control over taxes paid in Catalonia, currently managed by Spain’s State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT).

Primary sources: govern.cat, atc.gencat.cat. Reported by europapress.es, Mireia Esteve, Clara Blanchar, Gerard Mira, L.B, Sergi Saborit.